Bob said...... "In regard to minimizing bee beards, here's something I
have had pretty good
success with here in hot humid Alabama.  Sprits the bee beard with ice
water.  It seems to have a similar effect to the old farm nights when you
sat on the front porch to keep cool BUT if a sudden cool rain storm blew
up,
you went inside!  May not work for everyone, but it works pretty good for
me."

Bob Fanning

I'm grateful for all the suggestions for minimizing bee beards. I placed
screened bottoms and tops on each hive last night, and it helped quite a
bit. This morning there were limited bees on the hive fronts; nothing a
little smoke couldn't take care of (maybe a spritz of ice water would have
worked even better). The only problem was a large mass of bees clinging to
the outside of the bottom screen. I'm wondering if they congregated there
to minimize the amount of airflow through the hive (chimney effect); or
was it just a coincidence that a few bees found the screen and began
'nasenoffing' to attract the rest. Successful move............hoping for a
good goldenrod flow!

Dick Cartwright
Stony Brook, NY

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